The Kreutzer Sonata, And Other Stories : Book 02, Chapter 02

1889

People

(1828 - 1910) ~ Father of Christian Anarchism : In 1861, during the second of his European tours, Tolstoy met with Proudhon, with whom he exchanged ideas. Inspired by the encounter, Tolstoy returned to Yasnaya Polyana to found thirteen schools that were the first attempt to implement a practical model of libertarian education. (From : Anarchy Archives.) • "...the dissemination of the truth in a society based on coercion was always hindered in one and the same manner, namely, those in power, feeling that the recognition of this truth would undermine their position, consciously or sometimes unconsciously perverted it by explanations and additions quite foreign to it, and also opposed it by open violence." (From : "A Letter to a Hindu: The Subjection of India- Its....) • "The Government and all those of the upper classes near the Government who live by other people's work, need some means of dominating the workers, and find this means in the control of the army. Defense against foreign enemies is only an excuse. The German Government frightens its subjects about the Russians and the French; the French Government, frightens its people about the Germans; the Russian Government frightens its people about the French and the Germans; and that is the way with all Governments. But neither Germans nor Russians nor Frenchmen desire to fight their neighbors or other people; but, living in peace, they dread war more than anything else in the world." (From : "Letter to a Non-Commissioned Officer," by Leo Tol....) • "If, in former times, Governments were necessary to defend their people from other people's attacks, now, on the contrary, Governments artificially disturb the peace that exists between the nations, and provoke enmity among them." (From : "Patriotism and Government," by Leo Tolstoy, May 1....)

CHAPTER II.

It was disappointing to the Stary Tchert (Old Devil) that the brothers did
not quarrel over the division of the property, and that they separated
peacefully; and he cried out, calling his three small devils
(Tchertionki).

“See here,” said he, “there are living three brothers—Simeon the
soldier, Tarras-Briukhan, and Ivan the Fool. It is necessary that they
should quarrel. Now they live peacefully, and enjoy each other’s
hospitality. The Fool spoiled all my plans. Now you three go and work with
them in such a manner that they will be ready to tear each other’s eyes
out. Can you do this?”

“We can,” they replied.

“How will you accomplish it?”

“In this way: We will first ruin them to such an extent that they will
have nothing to eat, and we will then gather them together in one place
where we are sure that they will fight.”

“Very well; I see you understand your business. Go, and do not return to
me until you have created a feud between the three brothers—or I
will skin you alive.”

The three small devils went to a swamp to consult as to the best means of
accomplishing their mission. They disputed for a long time—each one
wanting the easiest part of the work—and not being able to agree,
concluded to draw lots; by which it was decided that the one who was first
finished had to come and help the others. This agreement being entered
into, they appointed a time when they were again to meet in the swamp—to
find out who was through and who needed assistance.

The time having arrived, the young devils met in the swamp as agreed, when
each related his experience. The first, who went to Simeon, said: “I have
succeeded in my undertaking, and to-morrow Simeon returns to his father.”

His comrades, eager for particulars, inquired how he had done it.

“Well,” he began, “the first thing I did was to blow some courage into his
veins, and, on the strength of it, Simeon went to the Czar and offered to
conquer the whole world for him. The Emperor made him commander-in-chief
of the forces, and sent him with an army to fight the Viceroy of India.
Having started on their mission of conquest, they were unaware that I,
following in their wake, had wet all their powder. I also went to the
Indian ruler and showed him how I could create numberless soldiers from
straw.

“Simeon’s army, seeing that they were surrounded by such a vast number of
Indian warriors of my creation, became frightened, and Simeon commanded to
fire from cannons and rifles, which of course they were unable to do. The
soldiers, discouraged, retreated in great disorder. Thus Simeon brought
upon himself the terrible disgrace of defeat. His estate was confiscated,
and to-morrow he is to be executed. All that remains for me to do,
therefore,” concluded the young devil, “is to release him to-morrow
morning. Now, then, who wants my assistance?”

The second small devil (from Tarras) then related his story.

“I do not need any help,” he began. “My business is also all right. My
work with Tarras will be finished in one week. In the first place I made
him grow thin. He afterwards became so covetous that he wanted to possess
everything he saw, and he spent all the money he had in the purchase of
immense quantities of goods. When his capital was gone he still continued
to buy with borrowed money, and has become involved in such difficulties
that he cannot free himself. At the end of one week the date for the
payment of his notes will have expired, and, his goods being seized upon,
he will become a bankrupt; and he also will return to his father.”

At the conclusion of this narrative they inquired of the third devil how
things had fared between him and Ivan.

“Well,” said he, “my report is not so encouraging. The first thing I did
was to spit into his jug of quass [a sour drink made from rye], which made
him sick at his stomach. He afterwards went to plow his summer-fallow, but
I made the soil so hard that the plow could scarcely penetrate it. I
thought the Fool would not succeed, but he started to work nevertheless.
Moaning with pain, he still continued to labor. I broke one plow, but he
replaced it with another, fixing it securely, and resumed work. Going
beneath the surface of the ground I took hold of the plowshares, but did
not succeed in stopping Ivan. He pressed so hard, and the colter was so
sharp, that my hands were cut; and despite my utmost efforts, he went over
all but a small portion of the field.”

He concluded with: “Come, brothers, and help me, for if we do not conquer
him our whole enterprise will be a failure. If the Fool is permitted
successfully to conduct his farming, they will have no need, for he will
support his brothers.”